Tuesday, 16 July 2013

A few months ago we almost repaired our front eave, after we (finally) fixed the leak in the roof. Unfortunately we were a board short, so it wasn't quite finished. Last week we* remedied that situation! We no longer have a hole above our front door! I'm quite sure that is terrible feng shui. We haven't painted them, as we are planning on repainting the exterior next year, and the eaves will not remain yellowy, creamy, peachy...

It feels so good to finish off a job.

Oh wait...

We now have a hole in the eaves out the back. Again, we had a leak that we couldn't figure out, after siliconing everything possible, and trying everything we could think of. Hopefully we will be able to find the source quickly, so that this hole doesn't hang around for as long as the front on did! Luckily our leaks are pretty minor, and actually only run into the eaves, not the house.

*This is one of those posts where when I write 'we' in regards to doing something, I mean I had nothing to do with it...

Friday, 12 July 2013

I haven't touched a sewing machine in over 10 years (scary flashbacks to Year 8 Home Ec still haunt me!), so last weekend was a bit of a milestone. Not only did I paint our cupboard doors, I also faced my sewing demons.

Last week I went to The Paddington Antique Centre, and I saw some lace bunting.

I thought about buying some for the wedding, but when I looked closer I realised that it didn't look too difficult. On my way home I dropped into Spotlight, and bought a few lengths of different lace curtains. I made a 'pattern' of a triangle, put on some Game of Thrones, and began cutting. I cut the lace into widths of about 20 cm, and then folded them over the pattern. The shape of the triangle meant there was no wastage. I also used some of the decorative edging, why there are a few parts that are different shapes. I then pinned the different patterns randomly and started sewing.

It's a bit extra special as I used my grandma's old Singer sewing machine that has been sitting in my spare room for a few years now. She would have been so excited about my wedding (and probably that I was sewing!), and I so wish she could be there with us. It's really sad that L and I don't have any grandparents left.

I chose to leave a little space between the flags. I actually used an unused paintbrush to 'measure' my spaces. I have a lot more flags left, but only bought a few lengths of the ribbon (18 m) as I wasn't sure if it would work, or if my skills were up to it! I'll buy some more this weekend.

One last shot, with my other weekend job in frame, in all of it's fresh white painted goodness!

Wednesday, 10 July 2013

This was my last weekend of holidays. My last holidays before the wedding. I had the house to myself. Originally I planned to pretty much relax, go for a walk or two, do some yoga and some school work to get ready for the term. Then on Thursday afternoon I decided to go to two shops to buy supplies for not one, but two entirely separate projects.
Remember these cupboard doors in the spare room? We had matching (but bigger) ones in our bedroom. We always hated them, and planned to paint them, but just never quite got around to it.

Before-boring, matt chipboard

Now look at them! White paint is magic!

After!

Bright and glossy!

It ended up being a bit harder than I thought. I planned on having all four doors in the garage, and do them all at once. I took the two spare room doors off and carried them downstairs to the garage. I took one of the ones from our bedroom off, and realised two things.
One-Being taller and wider it was a lot heavier-I couldn't actually carry it by myself.
Two-Even had I been able to carry it, it was too tall to fit through the doors, and I don't think I would have been able to negotiate the corners and furniture.

I ended up having to do the doors in our bedroom one at time, in the bedroom, on saw horses, which wasn't ideal, and added quite a bit of time to the project because once I finished the other three doors, I still had one to go.

My working environment!

I lightly sanded with 180 grit, vacuumed the doors, and then washed them down. Then 2 coats of the sealer/primer-quite a bit of the colour was showing through after 1 coat, and I was afraid they might bleed through.

I was getting pretty worried while priming the last door. They were just sucking in the primer on the first coat, I wasn't sure I would make it! I was literally scraping the last of the primer out of the tin.

I am so happy with how they look-they really make the rooms so much brighter, reflecting light around. I can't believe we left it so long. L was pretty impressed with me too!

Friday, 5 July 2013

Until last year I didn't know Paddington in Brisbane existed. This year I have been there half a dozen times already! I love taking friends and family there when I see them in Brisbane. It doesn't hurt that my wedding dress boutique is in Paddington either! It's hard that I am in MAJOR savings mode for the wedding! :( So many pretty things.

I tried on MY wedding dress today for the first time. It was a bit surreal, and now my wedding seems real. Not just some distant concept. Realising the other nights that it is next month was a bit scary too!!

I go to drop into a few of my favourite shops-I'm lucky I don't live close by I think! Blake and Taylor is one of my favourites. I wish I could have the whole shop, including all the beautiful furniture.

I picked up a little wooden caddy for the kitchen. It was constantly annoying me that we would have salt and pepper dropping on the shelf, and a yuccky oil mark from the bottom on the olive oil bottle. Not anymore!

I also picked up two sweet clay charms, with french quotes on them. Not sure what I will do with them yet.

There is only one happiness in life, it is to love and be lovedI love you to the depth and width and height my soul can reach

I love walking around Paddington, and seeing all the houses that are of a similar era and style to our blue house, that are already done up. I find it so inspiring, and great for ideas. I took a few pictures on my wanderings-excuse the awful iPhone shots!

I kept going up to the Antique Centre. I love how every time I go there are different things to see. Again, I would love to take so much of it home with me! Here are a few things that particularly stuck out for me. Again, bad iphone pics, TERRIBLE lighting, and not much room! Sorry!

Love this-but would have to paint it to get it into my house!

Pretty silver

Beautiful old wooden furniture!

This makes me sad. My grandparents had this exact sideboard in their dining room, it was an oiled teak, with a matching table. I didn't want it at the time, and didn't think it was very practical-partly I was moving between addresses regularly, and they were mostly smallish share houses, and partly because it was so delicate-you couldn't put hot or cold things directly onto it, you couldn't spill water onto it... So it was sold. For a really low price, because we just needed to get rid of it, and it was in a country town. I wish now I had kept it.

Just like my grandparents' old sideboard

Being a bride, of course I am going to love the bridal fashions! Last visit I showed L the frilliest, puffiest, laciest ones I could find and told him they were my dress. He was not impressed.

I'm home alone for a few days, and have a few plans to complete. One is a house job that involves paint (and is already trickier than I hoped!) and the other is a wedding job that involves a sewing machine. Let's see how we go!!

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

We are down to just under 2 months out, and I am planning (hoping) to have everything done by the end of July, leaving us a month to do the last minute things that crop up, get work organised, and try to relax and enjoy-rather than trying to organise ties, or decorations. That's the plan anyway.

We had our engagement shoot a few weeks ago, after a few cancellations due to the weather or L's big swollen face. It was perfect weather-gorgeous and sunny-and after a few cooler days it was warm enough not to freeze in a summer dress. I love the photos so much!

I've booked my hair and makeup, and know what I want for my hair, need to make a decision about makeup-do I go fairly natural, or a bit more glamorous? I've chosen my belt and veil and shoes. Just need a garter, earrings and a bracelet now. And maybe a small something for my hair, for after the veil has been taken out. I get to see MY dress on Thursday, when I go in for a fitting- so excited!

Our invitations are designed, printed and posted. I'm so happy with them! I love that they are simple and clean, but still nice and cheerful.

Our flowers are decided-pastel, with a touch of deeper pink-garden roses, spray roses, freesias, ranunculus and dusty miller in a posy style. We'll have similar flowers around our reception, including some hanging vases, similar to below (but brighter flowers).

We are actually having fairly minimal decorations-flowers and candles are pretty much it. Keeping it simple and stress free.

We are having a cocktail reception at a restaraunt-we aren't formal, and wanted to spend lots of time with our guests. We will be having 5 white high bars and stools similar to this, with flowers and candles. There is also a long couch/banquette seating area, and there will be some ottomans, and some seating in an outdoor courtyard. Plus, room for an all important dance floor!

My list seems to be ever growing-you would think it would be shrinking by now!